Rocky Top Middle School

14150 York Street

School District

Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by student on April 22, 2023

I mean there’s like a lot of bullying towards lgbtq students, from my own personal experience, and a ton of drama between students that makes learning get interrupted, and some teachers rlly suck but overall, it’s okay I guess. Better than shadow ridge def.
Submitted by student on January 04, 2023

This school is absolutely amazing. The teachers and staff are all so great and it is always in great condition. They do everything they can to support their students and it really shows.
Submitted by other on May 20, 2021

This school was amazing. All of the teachers were very nice and cared about their students success with a few exceptions. All of the counselors were very supportive and willing to help with whatever you needed. As and individual with a 504 plan all of the teachers were very willing to accommodate me. I saw a review saying that the staff didn't meet the 504 needs but as long as the student or parent advocated for themselves or their students. If you have any needs you can just ask the teachers and they are very willing to help you in whatever way you need. I was able to choice in because my sister when here and loved it. Overall this is a great school and I would recommend coming.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2021

As a native of Thornton, Co the community is very decent overall especially on a macro level. While Viewing through a micro lens I see an exchange of information stapled high along the man- made requisite ladder causing overflow trickling down conditioning its narrow path indirectly and directly leaving behind notes of truth and authenticity. The experience we have had at RTMS is disappointing at times when trusting professional role models and educators lacking neutral support of individuality, perception, and critical thought. Or perhaps the effect of losing the ability to question something or refute direction outside of the institutional expectation norm is lacking? We had surface turf level student/teacher relationships from the beginning of 6th grade all the way into the Remote learning platform controlling everyone in different capacities. Teachers should remain, well...teaching! I witnessed flowing through the motions with an inability to embrace childrens effects of this flip and dig beyond the shallow sanded, waters into the deep ocean of lessons,relationships, personal contact, meaningful connection, influence, positivity, energy, and purpose. The challenges and decisions this particular school made are geared toward mass media narratives scripted and lacking genuity toward improvement and learning. Instead causing division, isolation, barriers, preventing adequate support with restructuring 9 years of in-classroom learning over to a Sloppy, remote platform many adults would not succeed in!Ms. Reeves is an exception symbolizing hope. The principal has a tough job! She is a good speaker and cares about the well being of others from what I’ve gathered. The technology teacher was one of my sons favorites and he loved sharing his accomplishments and team projects. I had the same gym teachers when I was Kenden’s age. Lastly, I have never seen the word “racist”used so loosely, (even in these guidelines I respectfully read) the word has lost its meaning and historical significance.Our opinion is to love God and to love people. We are all humans.This choice and human right is within any guideline and no one can take it from earth whether flat or round. Great lessons, it could have been worse, beauty in this school- we removed it while leaving the bad, corrupt, and dissatisfaction behind. Thank you teachers and faculty who do their jobs no matter the environment and ignite the power of learning,growth, and self efficacy!
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2021

The teachers and counselors at this school are amazing. They’ve helped both my boys tremendously. They went in with low test scores, behind in almost every class and struggling to recover from the hard yr they had at there old school but Rockytop has given them there confidence back! They’ve helped them with every class, the teachers are patient, fun and understanding. I wish I would have found this school sooner, my boys will have a much better future because of there help!!!
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2019

I think this school is fine unless your child needs 504 or IEP services. I found out at the end of the school year my child was not getting the services laid out in a 504 and I was never contacted.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2019

It’s an honor to be a part of this Nationally recognizes school! They are on the Schools to Watch list!
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2017

I am a parent and I have a daughter that goes to Rocky Top. My daughter gets bullied, and then when I reported it to the counselors and teachers they defended the bully and their story. They said that my daughter needed to not makeup stories and ask her mom to make a big deal out of something so little. The teachers aren't really helpful or dedicated to their jobs. My daughter also will come home stressed out because the teachers yell at them and pile so much work on them that it's not even funny. My son when he was in 7th grade made a mistake on a project for science and forgot to talk about one of the elements for the project and he got a very ridiculous punishment. I really don't recommend Rocky Top for a school as a number 1 choice.
Submitted by other on November 30, 2016

i have been at this school now im in high school i miss this school so much the teachers are grate the clubs and the school awesome in supporting kids to do more.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2015

Amazing school and staff! I have a 7th and 8th grader new to Rocky Top - both are doing excellent academically and socially. Great teachers and the school seems to respect the students like young adults. We couldn't be happier!
Submitted by other on May 26, 2015

In general this school is considered by most as average to good within the city of Thornton. But keep in mind that this is within an city whose median middle school rating is a 4 out of 10. Anyone considering this a good school does so only by comparing it to the abysmal middle schools in the rest of the city. This school has several issues, many of which are outside the school's control, that must be addressed. The population of the school and the individual class sizes are too large. Bullying is ignored for the most part by the administration and staff, and inappropriate behavior is rampant. The academic expectations are low and it doesn't take much to get a decent grade in a class. Very few teachers are motivated enough to be effective at their job. The administration seems to be more concerned about keeping their job than about making real and significant changes that would provide a better environment and educational experience for the students.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2015

This school is going downhill fast. The problems at this school start at the top. Complacent staff and many consider their work as just a job instead of being educators. My son was bullied by one of the teacher's son and the couselor asked me to address the teacher directly. Big mistake. The teacher got with the assistant principal to gang up on us and make me the bad guy! Then they took their anger out on my wife when she went in to talk to them. The assistant principal had the nerve to counsel my wife on how married people should act. So, we were bullied by the staff reporting a bully incident. Go figure? They fail to understand that they exist because of our children and they are accountable to us. This school had a lot of potential but they can't even figure out how to fix the potholes in the parking lot. When we first started we told the school that our son was tested (IQ test), categorized as gifted and was awaiting entrance into Stargate Academy. They said it didn't matter and that they had to meet their criteria and put him in remedial classes. The school year is over and we just now got a letter from the school saying he's gifted!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2014

This is a great school! My son has for the first time been excited to go to school each day. He joined a great Science club and is starting to really want to achieve. The teachers are very good and don't fall for his creative excuses for not turning in work. He seems to really be thriving. Thanks Rocky Top!
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

When I purchased my house in the area. I wanted my kids to attend at the Rocky Top Middle School. This is one of the best public school in Adams 12 five stars. The teachers and staffs are wonderful and very helpful. Thank you Rock Top Middle School. I have 2 more kids and will be attended at the RTMS
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

Awful place. Staff yells at kids all day. Very stressed. AVOID! Do your kids a favor and find an alternative.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2013

It's incredible to that we have a week of hot weather out hear in the Denver area this spring and suddenly all the Adams 12 school's air conditioning units are 'broken'. So let me see if I understand this correctly, while the students are preparing for finals, the Adams 12 administrators are too cheap to turn on air conditioning so the kids can actually study and learn in class? Are you kidding me? The kids tell me the classrooms hit 85 degrees today. Where is this extra money saved going? Teachers? Admin salaries? Since I own and manage some commercial properties in the area I really doubt that both middle and high schools in the district all have the same problems at the same time and they don't have HVAC maintenance contracts. I don't know of any sizable commercial or public buildings that don't have these contracts. This is simply pathetic lying behavior from this district!
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2012

This school has won the best of Brighton Middle Schools for the past two years. They have had high growth and performance on the state test for a number of consecutive years. My children and their friends enjoy being part of this school and look forward to going. They have fun at Rocky Top and my children have been challenged academically as well. Great school overall!